Ninety nine patients with myocardial infarction underwent transluminal
balloon angioplasty of infarct-related coronary artery in the acute p
eriod of the disease. Patients subjected to angioplasty had significan
tly better short- and long-term prognosis (rare attacks of angina and
reinfarctions, improved survival) compared to similiar patients treate
d medically. Effect of angioplasty persisted for a long time after the
procedure in about 2/3 of patients. Basing on thee results wider use
of coronary angioplasty in acute myocardial infarction is recommended.